The Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers face off for the first time in the 2024-25 NBA season when they go head to head at the FedExForum Arena on Thursday.
Both sides suffered defeats in their last outings, with the Grizzlies falling by just two points against the Brooklyn Nets and the Lakers losing their first game in Detroit since 2021.
Match preview
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The Memphis Grizzlies were denied a third win on the bounce for the first time this season as they fell on the wrong end of a narrow defeat against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on Monday night.
In a frenetic and end-to-end contest with 11 ties and 17 lead changes, including six in a nail-biting fourth quarter, the Nets edged past Memphis 106-104, with Santi Aldama failing to hit a game-tying shot at the buzzer.
Signed to bring the needed experience to the rebuilding project, Dennis Schroder shook off a poor two-game shooting display as he dropped 20 points to go with six assists and two rebounds, leading six Nets players to finish with double-digit points.
Ja Morant and rookie Zack Edey both knocked down 25 points to keep the Memphis Grizzlies in the contest and take the game down to the wire, with Edey also grabbing 12 rebounds to complete his second double-double in the NBA.
Before that, Taylor Jenkins's men picked up consecutive wins for the first time this season as they rolled past the Milwaukee Bucks 122-99 on November 1, two days before brushing aside the Philadelphia 76ers 124-107 at the Wells Fargo Center.
With Monday's defeat, the Memphis Grizzlies have dropped to .500, picking up four wins and losing four of their opening eight matches this season, to sit 10th in the Western Conference standings.
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On the other hand, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a third defeat in the last four games on Monday night as they were beaten 115-103 by a spirited Detroit Pistons side at the Little Caesars Arena.
Antony Davis continues his strong showing this season, tallying 37 points to record a fifth game with 30+ points, while LeBron James finished with a 20-point 11-assist double-double, but it was not enough to get the Lakers a second road win.
Jaden Ivey finished with a team-high 26 points, including a dagger 3-pointer with 1:36 left in the game, to power the Pistons through, while Cade Cunningham notched 17 points to go with 11 assists and 11 rebounds to grab his first triple-double of the season.
Having put together a run of four back-to-back wins to start the season, JJ Redick's side have now lost three of their last four outings, falling against the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and most recently the Pistons.
While the Lakers are the ninth-highest scoring side in the league, averaging 116.1 points per game, they have 118.4 points per game so far — the seventh-highest tally — and rank 27th in defensive efficiency.
Before going on a run of three back-to-back home matches, the Los Angeles Lakers will end their five-game road trip with a journey to the FedExForum, where they have won their last two visits, beating Memphis 136-124 on March 28, two weeks before claiming a 123-120 victory.
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Team News
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Picked ninth overall in the 2024 Draft, Zack Edey has settled in nicely in the league, finishing with a career-high 25 points against the Nets as he continues his impressive start to life in the NBA.
The 22-year-old center was perfect from the field in the third quarter, knocking down his five attempts and converting his only shot from the free-throw line to rack up 13 points.
Having fully recovered from an ankle injury, Ja Morant looked his best against the Nets, as he notched 25 points, including two highlight-reel 360 layups, to go with five rebounds and nine assists.
Luke Kennard (foot) and guard John Konchar (quadriceps) missed Tuesday's game against Brooklyn and are questionable for the game against the Lakers, while Cam Spencer and Vince Williams Jr. have been ruled out through ankle and leg injuries respectively.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers have been handed a major injury scare, with Athony Davis considered day-to-day after picking up an ankle problem in Monday's loss against the Pistons.
Davis currently leads the league in scoring, averaging 32.6 points per game, and given the 31-year-old's defensive dominance, his absence will be a major miss for Redick's side at both ends of the court.
Experienced forward Christian Wood continues his long road to full fitness after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in September and the 29-year-old is out of contention for Thursday's game.
Memphis Grizzlies possible starting 5:
Morant, Pippen, Edey, Aldama, Jackson Jr
Los Angeles Lakers possible starting 5:
Russell, Reaves, Davis, Hachimura, LeBron
We say: Memphis Grizzlies to win by 3+ points.
Both coming off Monday's loss, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers will head into Thursday's clash looking to find their feet and return to winning ways.
All three of the Lakers' defeats this season have come away from the Crypto.com Arena, highlighting their struggle to impose themselves on the road, and we fancy the Grizzlies to secure a hard-fought victory.
Joshua Ojele
